Answer this question truthfully
### Question: What causes Salmonellosis?
### Response: Salmonellosis is caused by salmonella. For salmonella species, over 2 500 different strains (called "serotypes" or "serovars") have been identified to date. Salmonella is a ubiquitous and hardy bacteria that can survive several weeks in a dry environment and several months in water. The bacteria live in the intestinal tract of humans and other animals, including birds.
Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal. Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, milk, or eggs, but any food, including vegetables, may become contaminated.
Food may become contaminated by the hands of an infected food handler who did not wash hands with soap after using the bathroom.
Salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea, and people can become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with pets or pet feces. Reptiles, such as turtles, lizards, and snakes, are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella. Many chickens and young birds carry Salmonella in their feces.